The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Math. The lowest is 65% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mount Pleasant Elementary School
Mount Pleasant Elementary School is a regular public school in Livingston, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of six elementary schools in the Livingston Board of Education School District, a system that draws families from across this affluent, suburban Essex County township. The school sits in a residential neighborhood, typical of Livingston’s landscape of large single-family homes on tree-lined streets, about an hour from New York City by car.
On state assessments, Mount Pleasant posts consistently strong results. In both math and English language arts, students across grades three through five demonstrate high proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts across Essex County, a meaningful benchmark given that the county includes a wide range of communities, from Newark to wealthier suburbs. The school’s fifth graders take the state science assessment, and while the proficiency rate is somewhat lower than in math and ELA, a solid majority of students still meet or exceed the standard. A parent considering this school can expect a strong academic foundation in the elementary years.
The student body numbers around 430 children, a size that allows grade-level cohorts of roughly 65 to 80 students. Demographically, the school is roughly evenly split between Asian and White students, each group making up a substantial share of enrollment, with smaller populations of Hispanic, multiracial, and Black students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, a reflection of Livingston’s high median household income and owner-occupied housing rate. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the school’s profile, so a family with a child in those categories may want to contact the school directly to understand the support available.
Livingston itself is a car-dependent suburb with limited walkability. Most families drive to work, and the commute is long for many. The housing market is expensive: home values and rents have been climbing, consistent with the broader region. The township’s population has grown modestly, and it remains one of New Jersey’s highest-income communities, with a notably diverse population and a large Jewish community. Saint Barnabas Medical Center is a major local employer. Civic life centers on the Town Center municipal complex, community pools, recreation programs, and a network of volunteer boards.
A significant recent development at the district level is the voter-approved referendum to expand full-day kindergarten. Construction is expected to be complete by the 2026 school year, meaning that by the time a current kindergartner enters first grade, the program will be fully in place. The district also adopted a budget with a tax levy increase, reflecting ongoing investment in the schools.
For a family weighing Mount Pleasant, the picture is clear. The school delivers high academic performance in a setting that is both diverse and economically advantaged. The peer environment is strong, and the district is committed to expanding early childhood programming. The trade-offs are the ones any family faces in Livingston: a high cost of housing and a car-dependent lifestyle. There is no data on programs such as enrichment, arts, or gifted education at this school, so parents interested in those offerings would need to follow up with the school or district. But for solid elementary academics in a well-resourced suburban community, Mount Pleasant is a consistently strong option.
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